Seat mounting



SEAT MOUNTING Filed May 27, 1944 Bw .l

F. c; HAwKxNs 2,444,604

Patented July 6, 1948 ortica SEAT MoUN'riNG AFloyd C. Hawkins, Arcadia, Calif. Application May 27, 1944, serial No. 537,622 y v t ioiaims.' (o1. 155-51) -This invention has to do with a seat mounting and it has particularly reference to such adevice applicable, generally, to machines .such as tractors, farm implements, roadmachinery, etc. It is a general object ci this invention to provide a seat mounting which is simple, practical and inexpensive of construction and which provides a comfortable seat for the operator of a unit such as I have referred to.

Various machines used commercially or industrially require an operator and are commonly equipped with a seatfor the convenienceof the operator. An example of such a machine .isa tractor. However, other such machines are to be found for vuse in road work and in various commercial and industrial uses. When I refer to a tractor or a tractor seat I, oi course,mean to include those other situations or machines presenting problems or conditions similar to those encountered in connection with tractors.

The usual tractor has a'steering gear or wheel, suitable controls, and a seat located convenient for the operator.l The usual seatis a. pressed metal structure made serviceable ioruseon tractors and it is ordinarily supported on a simple projecting arm or bracket xed to a suitable part of thev tractor. Such seat supporting arms have some spring or resiliency. However, the usual construction is such that the seat issubject to excessive jarring and vibration and is very uncomlfortable and tiring for the operator.

y Itis an object of my invention to provide a seat mounting for tractors, or the like, whereby the seat is allowed a limited free motion relative to the tractor so thatjarring and vibration ordinarily communicated to the seat are checked` or dampened. With the seat mounting of the present invention the operator is maintained in working position relative to the controls of the tractor yet has lcertain freedom oi movement so that his body does not follow all of the movements of the tractor.

Another object of my invention is to. provide a seat mounting of the general character referred to which is extremely simple and inexpensive of manufacture, By my invention I provide a construction involving simple, linexpensive parts that can be easily and quickly applied to a tractor. The materialsk and construction involved in the device of the present invention are simple and inexpensive and the device is applicable to the ordinary tractor `construction without change or reconstruction of any of the parts. The device of the present invention is in the nature of a unit tovbe added to -or inserted in a 2 tractor construction and does not require recon-` struction or modification of the tractorl 4"Another object of my present 'invention is to provide means which I incorporate in the "seat mqounting which yieldingly checks ymovement' of the seat and yet allows a limited universal move; ment of the seat While maintaining the o-perator in position `for full control of the tractor; The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preierredzform and application of' my invention, throughout which description reference is made -to the accompanying drawings, in which: l. Fig'. 1 is a perspective view of the seat mounting of the present invention shown applied .toa typical tractor. Fig. 2 is an enlarged-detailed sectional view of the mounting means provided ior supporting the armoi the mounting from the trame thereof, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is-a transverse sectional view taken substantially: as indicated by line S`3 on Fig. 1, and Fig 4"is a detailed sectional view illustrating thestabilizal ing means provided by the present invention..

In the drawings I have shown my invention vap-f plied to a typical tractor and have shown itemployod for supporting the seat A of fthe-tractor from the seat mounting bracket B of the tractor, so that it is in working position relative to the control C of the tractor. In accordance with the usual tractor construction the seat supporting bracket projects upwardly and rearwardly between the fenders l@ oi the tractor andhas its upper rear end portion l l formed to.r extend substantially horizontally and to support the seat A. in the usual construction the seat A is a metal bucket-type seat and the seat and the bracket part l iV are formed with openings so that the seat isbolted to the bracket. In the usualtractor construction the lower or inner end ofthe bracket B is xed to a part of is shaped and 'proportioned so that it has acerf tain amount of spring or resiliency, l? am not concerned with the. details of the bracket B or its mounting andrtherefore, have ccnned my illustration to the upper end portion ci the bracket B, which usually serves to directly support the seat A. t The device or construction of the present invention is in the form of a unit insertable between the bracket B of the tractor and the ,seat A. thereof, so that it supports the seat fromthe bracket for certain limited orstabilizedmovefment. l ,y t

the tractor and the bracket The device of the present invention in its preferred form includes a frame I2 adapted to be connected to the bracket B to form an extension thereof, an arm I3 supported from the frame I2 through a universal mounting means I4, and adapted to carry the seat A of the tractor, and means I5 for stabilizing movement of the arm I3 relative to the frame I2.

The frame I 2 which forms primarily an extension of the tractor bracket B includes a base I6 adapted to be secured to the part I I of the bracket B, a post I'I projecting upwardly from the base I6 rearward of the normal position of the seat A and an arm I8 at the upper end of the post I1.

The ybase IB of the frame is a part formed to normally extend substantially horizontally or in a direction conforming to that of the part II of the bracket B and in practice it may be secured to the part II of the bracket B in any suitable manner. In the preferred form of the invention I make the base I8 of the frame a simple part, rectangular in cross section, and I secure it to the part I I of the bracket by a bolt I9 passed through registering holes in the parts il and I 5 and: by a U-bolt which is carried by a part of the means I5 to embrace; overlapping portions of the parts II and I6, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The base IB projects somewhat rearward from the part II of the `bracket B and supports the post I1 so that it projects vertically at a position spaced a suitabledistance rearward of the normal position of the seat A.

The post I'l may be a simple, straight, vertically disposedmember formed integral with the base lI6 and the arm I8 at the upper end of the post vI'Iifmay be an integral continuation of the rpost formed by bending the upper end portion of the post forward, as shown in Fig. l. From an examination of Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be apparent that the frame I2, having the several parts I 6, I'I and I 8, is easily and inexpensively formed of a single length of material by simply providing two simple bends in such length of material, one 'bend at the point 22 where the base I8--joins the post I'I and the second bend at 23 where the arm I8 joins the post' I'I.

The arm 'I3 is connected to the support I8 by the means I4 so that it depends therefrom and has a limited free or universal movement. The arm I3 has la body'part 25 which may be straight and which normally extends downwardly and slight-ly forwardly from the support I8. A seat rest- 2-6 projects forward from the lower end of the lbodyl of the arm to carry the seat A of the tractor. i

Themeans I 4 may vary widely in construction and is primarily provided to connect the arm I3 with thev support I8 of the frame I2 so that its lower end portion is free to move within certain limits; In the particular construction illustrated the means I4 includes a socket plate 30 secured to the arm support I8 and a ball 3l resting in the socket of the plate and a stem 32 depending from the ball 3I to extend through registering openings in the plate 3B anda support I8. The stem 32 is flattened to form a part 33 suitable for being bolted or otherwise connected to the upper endY of the arm body 25. In the particular case-illustarted bolts-34 are shown releasably connecting the part 33 and the `upper end of the bodyZIr'l Further, in the drawings the socket plate 3d is showndetachable from the mounting I8 so that it can be removed and renewed if ex- 4 cessive wear occurs between the ball and the plate.

The seat rest 26 at the lower end of the body 25 of arm I3 may be formed by bending or deecting the lower end portion of the body forward so that it assumes an angle suitable for supporting the seat A. In practice bolts 40, or the like, may be provided for securing the seat A to the part 26 corresponding to the manner in which the seat is normally secured to the part I I of the bracket B.

It is desirable in practice to have a back rest for the operator and, therefore, I provide a cross member in the form of a back rest 4I on the body 25 of the arm I 3. It is to be understood, of course, that the back rest may be located, shaped, and otherwise formed to provide a convenient'rest for the back of the operator.

With the construction above described the seat A would be supported from the support I8 so that the arm I3 is substantially vertical and because of the universal mounting means I4 the seat would have a free swinging motion desirable in some respects but not sufciently stable for practical use.

By my present invention I provide the stabilizing means 'I5 which normally yieldingly holds the arm I3 in a forward position, that is, so that it extends downward and forward from the support I8, and which stabilizes or yieldingly checks lateral movement of the arm. The preferred form of stabilizing means illustrated in the drawings includes a cross arm 60 on the arm I3, a cross armVv y6I on the frame I2, and helical tension springs 62 connecting the cross arms. In practice the cross arms may vary considerably in size orlength and their location can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. I prefer to pivotally support `one of the cross arms so it has an equalizing action at all times. In the particular case illustrated and in the preferred form of the invention the cross arm 60 is pivotally secured to the arm I3 at the lower end portion of the body 25 thereof, or in the vicinity of the point of connection 65 between the body 25 and seat rest 26.

The cross arm 6I is rigidly secured to the construction at the vicinity of the forward end of thebase I6 of the frame. It is convenient in practice to yactually secure the cross arm 6I to the base I6 of the frame and in the construction shown I employ a U-bolt 20 carried by the cross arm SI to embrace the parts II and IS so that these parts are tied together and the cross arm is anchored to them through the simple U-bolt connection.

The tens-ion springs 62 are simple, helical tension springs having their ends fixed to the outer endportions of the cross arms, the correspondingv ends ofthe cross arms being joined by a tension spring so that the combination of cross arms and tension springs forms a substantially rectangular structure, as will be apparent from anexamination of Fig. 1' of the drawings.

The cross arms and thesprings, above referred to, are mounted and proportioned so that the springs 62 normally hold the seat A in what I will term a forward position, that is, so that thel arm I3 extends down and forward from the support I8. When the operator places his weight upon the seat- A the arm tends to swing rearwardlyy and consequently tension is placed upon the springs 62 so that they yieldingly resist the rearward movement of the seat. The action just described results in al yielding support for the plication the device is arranged in seat allowing suitable forward and aft movement of the seat relative to the tractor, the rearward movement being checked by the action of the springs 62.

The cross arms and springs of the means I normally hold the seat A central, or in line with the frame, and in proper position relative to the control C of the tractor. The universal mounting means I4 allows for free side movement or universal movement of the arm so that as the tractor tips from side to side the arm can swing to either side. This swinging or side motion of the arm is yieldingly checked by the action of the springs 62 through their action or tendency to at all times maintain the seat in the central position. This action is balanced or equalized by the pivotal mounting of arm 60. It will be understood, of course, that in action or operation the movements of the seat are not confined to fore and aft motion or to lateral motion, but rather the movements or motions of the seat will be in various directions and will, in all cases, be yieldingly checked or restrained by the springs 62.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent how the unit or mounting of the present invention can be quickly and effectively inserted between the seat A and the mounting bracket B of the tractor, it being merely necessary to remove the seat A from part II, apply the base I6 to part II, and then apply the seat A to the part 26 of the arm I3. Through this simple applace and is ready for operation.

During operation the device utilizes all of the spring and resiliency inherent in the bracket B and adds a general resiliency or softness by reason of the spring or ilexure that occurs in the frame I2 and the arm I3, it being apparent that a certain amount of springing action will occur at the points 22, 23 and 65. The universal mounting I4 allows for free universal movement of the seat while the means I5 normally maintains the seat in the proper position and yieldingly resists deflection of the seat from that position. As the tractor operates the jars and vibration that are normally communicated directly to the seat A through the bracket B are dampened through the construction of the present invention and any pitching or violent movements of the tractor are absorbed through the flexibility and construction of the mounting of the present invention, particularly through the universal means- I4 Vand the stabilizing means I5.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificv details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall Within the scope of the following claims.

BIS

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A seat mounting including a frame to be secured to a support to project upwardly therefrom, a seat carrying arm universally secured to the upper portion of the frame, the frame and arm being flexible to :allow vertical movement of the seat, and means yieldingly stabilizing lateral movement of the arm including a pair of springs connecting the arm and frame.

2. A seat mounting including a frame to be secured to a support to project upwardly therefrom, a seat carrying arm having its upper end universally secured to the upper portion of the frame and having a seat support at its lower end,

and means yieldingly stabilizing movement of the arm including cross arms on the arm and frame and springs connected between the cross arms, one of the cross arms being pivlotally mounted.

3. A seat mounting including a frame to be secured to a support to project upwardly therefrom, a seat carrying arm having its upper end universally secured to the upper portion of the frame and having a seat support aty its lower end, and means yieldingly stabilizing movement of the arm including cross arms on the arm and frame and springs connected between the cross arms, one of the cross arms being pivotally mounted and the other being rigidly mounted.

4. A seat mounting including a frame to be secured to a support to project upwardly therefrom, a seat carrying arm having its upper end universally secured to the upper portion of the frame so the arm depends therefrom, the arm having a seat support at its lower end, and means yieldingly stabilizing movement of the arm including cross arms on the arm and frame and springs connected between the cross arms, the cross arm on the seat carrying arm being pivotally mounted.

FLOYD C. HAWKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,006 Gardner Mar. 2, 1880 297,108 Bunker Apr. 22, 1884 354,043 Connolly Dec. 7, 1886 420,430 Banks Feb. 4, 1890 446,659 Bunker Feb. 17, 1891 557,494 Davy Mar. 31, 1896 1,093,042 Etherington Apr. 14, 1914 1,229,488 Lindskoog June 12, 1917 1,305,771 Clark June 3, 1919 1,429,979 Spanenberg Sept. 26, 1922 1,663,112 Caslow Mar. 20, 1928 1,697,093 Tevis Jan. 1, 1929 

